The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-01
MR., VILAs'S REPORT.

The annual report Of the Postmaster-g gen.
eral is one of the most voluminous ever issued
from that department. The postal business
is likely to grow and the number of Offices
incress Sc for many years. but it is hardly
necessary for the annual report of the Post
master-general to keep pace in bulkiness.
That of the British Postmaster general bears
no comparison in volume to this one, which,
stripped of its verbosity could easily be con-
densed into fourth of the space it occupies.
For the rest, the report is very optimistic in
tone, every branch of the postal business
being represented in the best possible condi-
ton, with the added inference, plainly read
able between the lines, that this is the result
of Democratic administration. The country
knows better. It knows perfectly well that
the postal service was far better before the
Democracy came into power than it is to-day.
Complaints of inefficient service constant
and widespread. The service has been
VIGOROUSLY demoralized by the removal OF
experienced officials and clerks and the sub
stitution of inexperienced and incompetent
ones. This is particularly true OF the railway
mail-service, of which Postmaster-general
Villas complacently says: cit is to-day in
superior condition, I am thoroughly assured,
to that of any previous period" This is his
way of saying it is in better condition than
ever before-a statement which the daily
experience of the public does not sustain. The
Postmaster-gener only hints at postal teleg-
l. 1cx,c ,+I& 1,o%f to
government should build special buildings
for postoffice purposes in large cities and
| towns and that the department should abso-
| lutely own and manage its own postal cars.
Other features of the service discussed In
| a manner that shows considerable familiarity
with details, and the department finances are
| set forth in good shape.
ACCORDING to Postmaster-general Villas,
| the Postal Department is in fourishing
| condition, but some of the facts set out Il the
| report fail to sustain his assertion. The
! large increase of business in the dead-letter
! office cannot, for instance, be regarded by the
community as a proof of the increased eff
| cheney of the department, although the
| officials seem to regard it in that light. On
| the contrary, it is the most convincing
| evidence that could be offered of the deterio-
ration of the service The growth of the
business of tho country, as indicated by the
| figures given in the report, is by no means
sufficient to warrant an increase in the
amount of mail not delivered of IL IA per
cent. over that of last year. Facts which
| come within the individual knowledge of
| nearly every reader of the Journal show
where the responsibility lies for this large
| addition to the dead-letter mail The senders
of letters and valuable packages not more
| careless than in the past it is reasonable to
suppose; but it is unquestionably true that
| clerks and carriers who handle the mail are
both careless and inefficient to degree that
was unknown under former administrations
| Misdirected letters are doubtless numerous
| but the cases in which mail plainly addressed
| which reaches its owners only after exasper-
ating delay, if at ALL are unpleasantly fire.
| ouent. So marked is the falling off in the
| efficiency of the service, that careful citizens
prefer other modes of conveyance for valuable
delivery, over the government system as now
operated, is frequently discussed. Mr.. Villas
| and reform" to the contrary notwithstand-
| ing, it is a poor service, and is growing worse.
THE RED-MOUTHED MOST.
Tho oorviction of Johann Most ia another